Section 237. Christ Ledges with Zaccheus. (Luke, xix., 2, seq.)

The healing of the blind man heightened the rejoicing of the multitude. But Jesus went with them no further; perhaps the caravan wished to reach Jerusalem on the same day. [638] In the suburbs of Jericho lived a rich publican, named Zaccheus, who probably knew Christ by the reports of other publicans. Being of short stature, he climbed a tree, in order to see Christ when the procession passed by. Ever ready to welcome the dawning of better feelings in the hearts of sinners, the Saviour looked up, and said, "Zaccheus, [639] make haste and come down, for to-day I must abide at thy house." The love with which Christ met his desire affected him more deeply than any thing else could have done; his heart was won; and in the fulness of his joy he vowed to prove his repentance by dividing half of his property among the poor, and remunerating four-fold all whom he had overreached. It surprised many that He, who was recognized as Theocratic king, should go to "be guest with a man that was a sinner." With reference to this feeling Christ said, "This day is salvation [640] come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." [641] And this was only an application to a particular case of the general truth, that it was his mission to restore again the image of God that had been defaced in humanity.